Top Five in Pittsburgh

Good afternoon,

This is going to be a somewhat controversial topic for a weight loss site, but a fun one I think. I have lost a total of 33 or so pounds since joining MFP about three months ago and my Wife has lost a total of around 100 since having our youngest son almost 2 years ago. We both LOVE FOOD, absolutely LOVE IT. I am sure some of you can identify with this. That being said, since we have been eating healthy and excersizing we spend time TALKING about the "Slob Food", as we affectionately call it, that we used to eat all of the time. We still, every once in awhile, break down for a little treat to congratulate ourselves on how well we have done with our weight loss mission. When we do, here are my Top Five places in Pittsburgh (where we are from) that we like to be "Slobs" at:

1. Danny’s Pizza in Baldwin – Whether you get the classic Italian Hoag, the Steak Hoag with the famous ‘red’ sauce or any of Danny’s pizzas, these truly amazing pieces of food art are sure to make your eyes roll back into your head in slob food ecstasy and leave you licking not only your fingers, but the box or wrapper that your food came in. The hoag’s are cooked in pans that are from like 1907 and have been NEVER been washed so the flavor just seers into the hoag as it bakes. The Pizza is like manna from the god of dough, sauce and cheese. Just a truly mind blowing food experience, coming out of a building on the side of the road that hearkens back to the middle part of the 20th century. Amazing!
2. Gali’s Gyro’s in Pleasant Hills – Simply the greatest gyro ever concocted, Gali’s has a daily gyro combo special that is so freaking delicious it will leave you wondering if they just caught the lamb out back right before they brought out your meal. The price is ridiculously cheap for the size of the gyro that they bring out, and I recommend the greek salad as a part of your meal, as the dressing is to die for. This is another one of those small places on the side of the road that you would completely miss if you didn’t pay attention.
3. The little Chinese Cart in the Strip District – I have no idea what they call their business, and I don’t even remember where exactly it is, I just know that it is down by Wholey’s on that side of the strip and they make the absolute greatest egg rolls on the planet. Period. Their pad thai is amazing, as is their chicken on a stick (for the kids) but hands down the best egg rolls anywhere. At $2 a piece they may seem pricey, but they are huge. I get 6-8 of them every time we go down to the strip.
4. Primanti Brothers in the Strip – Sure, Primanti’s has satellite locations in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, even one not far from where we live, but the original store in the Strip is still the best. If you are not familiar with their food then you haven’t actually been fed properly in your life. Pick a sandwich from their menu, then watch them slap on a handful of fresh cut French fries and Homemade cole slaw on the fresh baked local bread. As if that wasn’t enough to make the sandwiches worth killing for, throw a fried egg on top for good measure. This is the sandwich that Pittsburgh is famous for.
5. Fat Heads – In the south side resides a mecca of food and beer. The sandwiches are enormous, the wings on Monday fantastic, the homemade chips great and on top of all of that you can go ‘grocery shopping’ upstairs for single bottles of beer. Take home a six pack of totally different varieties or simply pick one to savor while you feast on the slobtastic food. Fat Heads also has amazing price points for their slob food, so it won’t break your budget to eat like a total pig.

I hope this has made you smile. I know it has me absolutely wishing that you could always eat like a total slob and still lose weight. That would be fantastic. Hahaha. What are your favorite places to 'Slob out'? Sharing makes it easier for all of us to stay on the wagon I think... :)

Have a great day!

Jason
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Replies

  • amayzingamanda
    amayzingamanda Posts: 254 Member
    I went to college at Cal and was introduced to Primanti my Jr. Year (I'm originally from NJ).

    SOOOO GOOOODDDDD.

    There's another place down on the south side that I've met a friend of mine for lunch a couple times. I forget what it's called but its all Pitas. very yummy!
  • scapez
    scapez Posts: 2,018 Member
    Two words:

    VINNIE PIE!!!
  • MikeM53082
    MikeM53082 Posts: 1,199 Member
    Primanti Bros. rocks! They have 3 south Florida locations now.

    Oddly enough, whenever I've been in there, very few people get the sandwiches. The waiter says their pizza is much more popular than their sandwiches now.
  • bigdawg025
    bigdawg025 Posts: 774 Member
    OMG... I miss Fat Heads!!!! I love the SOUTH SIDE!!!! Primanti's is FANTASTIC after a night out on the town or at the casino!!! 3 weeks till I'm back in the Burgh!!!! HELL YEAH!!!
  • hkulbacki
    hkulbacki Posts: 187 Member
    I went to college at Cal and was introduced to Primanti my Jr. Year (I'm originally from NJ).

    SOOOO GOOOODDDDD.

    There's another place down on the south side that I've met a friend of mine for lunch a couple times. I forget what it's called but its all Pitas. very yummy!

    The Pita Pit, I love that place!!! The Buffalo Chicken pita is my fave! They need to put one north of the city for me :)
  • OMG... I miss Fat Heads!!!! I love the SOUTH SIDE!!!! Primanti's is FANTASTIC after a night out on the town or at the casino!!! 3 weeks till I'm back in the Burgh!!!! HELL YEAH!!!

    Hey BigDawg??? Fatheads for beer and wings? COUNT ME IN!!!!

    As for Danny's that is 5 minutes from my house and I've never been. I will go there after the new year and try it out. Keeping it as light as possible to survive the holidays this month.
  • hkulbacki
    hkulbacki Posts: 187 Member
    Oh, another favorite. The OTB (Over the Bar) Bicycle Cafe on Carson Street. For the total slob burger you have to have the Dirty Dozen Burger. Named after the Dirty Dozen bike ride of course, it's 6 half pound burgers with cheese and bacon all stacked up - shared with a friend (or several) it's awesome.

    They have lots of other not-so-fattening things on the menu also, all with bike-related names. A GREAT place to stop after biking the nearby riverfront trails.
  • asmodeon
    asmodeon Posts: 5 Member
    I live very close to that Danny's and was originally turned on to it by my parents way back in the day growing up. I've been feasting on it ever since.

    I posted this topic and since then my mouth has been watering. I knew this was a bad idea. LOL
  • Bridget28152723
    Bridget28152723 Posts: 372 Member
    Good afternoon,

    This is going to be a somewhat controversial topic for a weight loss site, but a fun one I think. I have lost a total of 33 or so pounds since joining MFP about three months ago and my Wife has lost a total of around 100 since having our youngest son almost 2 years ago. We both LOVE FOOD, absolutely LOVE IT. I am sure some of you can identify with this. That being said, since we have been eating healthy and excersizing we spend time TALKING about the "Slob Food", as we affectionately call it, that we used to eat all of the time. We still, every once in awhile, break down for a little treat to congratulate ourselves on how well we have done with our weight loss mission. When we do, here are my Top Five places in Pittsburgh (where we are from) that we like to be "Slobs" at:

    1. Danny’s Pizza in Baldwin – Whether you get the classic Italian Hoag, the Steak Hoag with the famous ‘red’ sauce or any of Danny’s pizzas, these truly amazing pieces of food art are sure to make your eyes roll back into your head in slob food ecstasy and leave you licking not only your fingers, but the box or wrapper that your food came in. The hoag’s are cooked in pans that are from like 1907 and have been NEVER been washed so the flavor just seers into the hoag as it bakes. The Pizza is like manna from the god of dough, sauce and cheese. Just a truly mind blowing food experience, coming out of a building on the side of the road that hearkens back to the middle part of the 20th century. Amazing!
    2. Gali’s Gyro’s in Pleasant Hills – Simply the greatest gyro ever concocted, Gali’s has a daily gyro combo special that is so freaking delicious it will leave you wondering if they just caught the lamb out back right before they brought out your meal. The price is ridiculously cheap for the size of the gyro that they bring out, and I recommend the greek salad as a part of your meal, as the dressing is to die for. This is another one of those small places on the side of the road that you would completely miss if you didn’t pay attention.
    3. The little Chinese Cart in the Strip District – I have no idea what they call their business, and I don’t even remember where exactly it is, I just know that it is down by Wholey’s on that side of the strip and they make the absolute greatest egg rolls on the planet. Period. Their pad thai is amazing, as is their chicken on a stick (for the kids) but hands down the best egg rolls anywhere. At $2 a piece they may seem pricey, but they are huge. I get 6-8 of them every time we go down to the strip.
    4. Primanti Brothers in the Strip – Sure, Primanti’s has satellite locations in the suburbs of Pittsburgh, even one not far from where we live, but the original store in the Strip is still the best. If you are not familiar with their food then you haven’t actually been fed properly in your life. Pick a sandwich from their menu, then watch them slap on a handful of fresh cut French fries and Homemade cole slaw on the fresh baked local bread. As if that wasn’t enough to make the sandwiches worth killing for, throw a fried egg on top for good measure. This is the sandwich that Pittsburgh is famous for.
    5. Fat Heads – In the south side resides a mecca of food and beer. The sandwiches are enormous, the wings on Monday fantastic, the homemade chips great and on top of all of that you can go ‘grocery shopping’ upstairs for single bottles of beer. Take home a six pack of totally different varieties or simply pick one to savor while you feast on the slobtastic food. Fat Heads also has amazing price points for their slob food, so it won’t break your budget to eat like a total pig.

    I hope this has made you smile. I know it has me absolutely wishing that you could always eat like a total slob and still lose weight. That would be fantastic. Hahaha. What are your favorite places to 'Slob out'? Sharing makes it easier for all of us to stay on the wagon I think... :)

    Have a great day!

    Jason
    Pittsburgh has the best food, and thats a fact ! Im from Cali, moved to Pitts , now live in Florida...I like Mancini's bread,Primidonna's basically any "hoagie " and pizza place, man Im making myself hungry! Go Steelers!!!!!!!!!!
  • I live very close to that Danny's and was originally turned on to it by my parents way back in the day growing up. I've been feasting on it ever since.

    I posted this topic and since then my mouth has been watering. I knew this was a bad idea. LOL

    Good to meet some locals. Thank God my car is in the shop and I'm already cooking a healthy meal....otherwise, I'd be there hahaha
  • Laurayinz
    Laurayinz Posts: 929 Member
    2 more words: Big Jim's.

    I live about 5 minutes from the other Danny's location... I've only had it once and thought it was just ok. I've come to prefer Fellini's lately...
    There are a couple of Pittsburgh groups here you could check out for some bonding time.. ;)
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    Primanti's tops any list of course. Big Jims is a great second! someone mentioned Vincent's .. did I hear he recently passed? I used to LOVE his pizzas, but haven't had one in probably 20 years. what a fun topic
  • MFPAddict
    MFPAddict Posts: 2,069 Member
    Picking the best Gyro shop in Pittsburgh is like picking the best Steeler from a 70s team. I have been to Gali's a couple times and they to make a great gyro. My first choice has been Mike & Tony's for many years. Even after I started my fitness journey and realize how bad they are for me, I still can't go there without ordering TWO gyros. They are that good. I also like My Big Fat Greek Gyro. There is a location in Peters and one in Mt. Lebanon that I know about. I think they might have other locations as well. I only discovered them early this year, but was quite pleased with their gyro. They have one of those FREE if you can finish it deals that I would have loved to attempt in my youth. I like my body too much now to torture it like that.

    I shop at the Aldi's near Danny's pizza, but have only been in there once. I know several people that swear by their Italian Hoagie, but I am not much of an Italian Hoagie eater. I stopped in for a couple of slices of pizza and didn't enjoy them at all.

    Definitely can't go wrong at Primanti's!!!
  • MFPAddict
    MFPAddict Posts: 2,069 Member
    For pizza, my two favorites are Mineo's (Squirrel Hill & Mt. Lebanon) and Fiore's (Dormont).
  • BrettPGH
    BrettPGH Posts: 4,716 Member
    Primanti Bros. rocks! They have 3 south Florida locations now.

    Oddly enough, whenever I've been in there, very few people get the sandwiches. The waiter says their pizza is much more popular than their sandwiches now.

    :noway:

    We're going to need to get rid of these out-of-state Primanti's chains... they're doing it wrong.
  • hhcote
    hhcote Posts: 78 Member

    2. Gali’s Gyro’s in Pleasant Hills – Simply the greatest gyro ever concocted, Gali’s has a daily gyro combo special that is so freaking delicious it will leave you wondering if they just caught the lamb out back right before they brought out your meal. The price is ridiculously cheap for the size of the gyro that they bring out, and I recommend the greek salad as a part of your meal, as the dressing is to die for. This is another one of those small places on the side of the road that you would completely miss if you didn’t pay attention.

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE GYROS! Thank GOD I'm not living in Pittsburgh because I'd be visiting Gali's today!!
  • Barneystinson
    Barneystinson Posts: 1,357 Member
    The food is fantastic in the Burgh, but the Iron City beer? Not so much

    Always like to compliment my wings with some Yuengs, n'at :tongue:
  • hhcote
    hhcote Posts: 78 Member

    2. Gali’s Gyro’s in Pleasant Hills – Simply the greatest gyro ever concocted, Gali’s has a daily gyro combo special that is so freaking delicious it will leave you wondering if they just caught the lamb out back right before they brought out your meal. The price is ridiculously cheap for the size of the gyro that they bring out, and I recommend the greek salad as a part of your meal, as the dressing is to die for. This is another one of those small places on the side of the road that you would completely miss if you didn’t pay attention.

    I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE GYROS! Thank GOD I'm not living in Pittsburgh because I'd be visiting Gali's today!!

    For those in the Hudson Valley - 3 Greeks and a Gyro in Nyack is fantastic!
  • ket_the_jet
    ket_the_jet Posts: 1,257 Member
    I'm not from Pittsburgh, but Bloomfield Bridge Tavern has the best Polish food. And I always have fun when I'm at Hofbräuhaus. Other than that, classics like Primanti Bros definitely deserve to be on the list. But when I'm in Pittsburgh I'm usually drinking in Shady Side or South Side...not checking out dining establishments.
    -wtk
  • jerber160
    jerber160 Posts: 2,606 Member
    I'm not from Pittsburgh, but Bloomfield Bridge Tavern has the best Polish food. And I always have fun when I'm at Hofbräuhaus. Other than that, classics like Primanti Bros definitely deserve to be on the list. But when I'm in Pittsburgh I'm usually drinking in Shady Side or South Side...not checking out dining establishments.
    -wtk
    i gotta say i HATE the hofbrauhaus. those fat, greasy, congealed white snausages slipping around the plate really turned me off. but then I'm more an italian fan...]